NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Montana: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 45.8 (Elevated), ranked #34 of 51 states. 4,768 establishments, 62,766 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 45.8
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

🛡️Stable Market

Montana exhibits structural stability in retail trade, with volatility at 24.1 and firm retention ranking in the top 10. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
86.3%
Percentile within industry
Rank #8 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
41.6
Scale of 0-100
Rank #24 of 51 states
Establishment Density
92.8
vs. national average
Rank #49 of 51 states
Market Volatility
24.1
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
37.3
Labor cost pressure

4,768 Establishments in Montana

4,768
Establishments
-2.6% YoY
62,766
Total Employment
+0.4% YoY
$41,181
Average Annual Wage
+3.0% YoY

Montana vs National Retail Trade Average

How Montana's retail trade market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric MT National Difference
Entry Risk Score 45.8 44.6 +1.2
5-Year Retention 86.3% 51.0% +35.3
Growth Momentum 41.6 42.9 -1.3
Market Volatility 24.1 24.4 -0.3
Establishment Density 92.8 49.0 +43.8
Wage Pressure 37.3 30.5 +6.8

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within retail trade only.

Montana Ranks #34 of 51 for Retail Trade

Montana ranks #34 out of 51 states for retail trade market entry conditions.

Retail Trade Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Wisconsin 33.3 moderate
#2 Nebraska 35.9 moderate
#3 Nevada 37.0 moderate
#4 Massachusetts 37.1 moderate
#5 Alaska 37.2 moderate
#34 Montana You 45.8 elevated
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 37.2 · #5 Alabama — 46.4 · #36 Arkansas — 51.8 · #44 Arizona — 44.9 · #32 California — 44.0 · #28 Colorado — 42.9 · #23 Connecticut — 44.7 · #31 District of Columbia — 58.0 · #50 Delaware — 41.8 · #19 Florida — 51.0 · #43 Georgia — 47.5 · #38 Hawaii — 56.1 · #48 Iowa — 40.8 · #16 Idaho — 40.1 · #12 Illinois — 48.1 · #39 Indiana — 39.8 · #10 Kansas — 40.4 · #14 Kentucky — 46.4 · #36 Louisiana — 52.3 · #46 Massachusetts — 37.1 · #4 Maryland — 43.6 · #26 Maine — 44.1 · #29 Michigan — 40.5 · #15 Minnesota — 39.6 · #9 Missouri — 50.6 · #42 Mississippi — 59.2 · #51 Montana — 45.8 · #34 North Carolina — 43.4 · #25 North Dakota — 49.9 · #41 Nebraska — 35.9 · #2 New Hampshire — 48.7 · #40 New Jersey — 43.7 · #27 New Mexico — 39.9 · #11 Nevada — 37.0 · #3 New York — 57.2 · #49 Ohio — 39.2 · #8 Oklahoma — 46.3 · #35 Oregon — 42.9 · #24 Pennsylvania — 38.1 · #6 Rhode Island — 42.3 · #21 South Carolina — 44.3 · #30 South Dakota — 38.9 · #7 Tennessee — 42.8 · #22 Texas — 41.6 · #17 Utah — 40.3 · #13 Virginia — 41.6 · #17 Vermont — 52.1 · #45 Washington — 42.0 · #20 Wisconsin — 33.3 · #1 West Virginia — 52.8 · #47 Wyoming — 44.9 · #33
Low Moderate Elevated High

Tap a state to view details

About Entry Risk Score: A weighted composite of firm retention, growth momentum, market volatility, establishment density, and wage pressure. Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: February 2026. Next refresh expected: Q2 2026 (BLS QCEW update).

Compare to Another State

How does Montana stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

How Montana's retail trade market compares to bordering states.

South Dakota 38.9 #7/51 Idaho 40.1 #12/51 Wyoming 44.9 #33/51 North Dakota 49.9 #41/51

Other Industries in Montana

Construction → Healthcare and Social Assistance → Accommodation and Food Services → Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services → Finance and Insurance → Real Estate and Rental and Leasing → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →